Protection circuitry for power converters
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsBo Liu, Yongduk Lee, Xin Wu, Suman Dwari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power converter can include a first line, a second line, a capacitor line disposed between the first line and the second line, a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected to the capacitor line in series between the first line and the second line, a midpoint line connected to a midpoint between the first capacitor and the second capacitor, and a protection circuit disposed between the first capacitor and the second capacitor and configured to provide protection to one or more portions of the power converter.
Claims16
A power converter, comprising:
- a first line;
- a second line;
- a capacitor line disposed between the first line and the second line;
- a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected to the capacitor line in series between the first line and the second line;
- a midpoint line connected to a midpoint between the first capacitor and the second capacitor;
- a protection circuit disposed between the first capacitor and the second capacitor and configured to provide protection to one or more portions of the power converter, wherein the protection circuit includes a first switch and a second switch connected in series between the first capacitor and the second capacitor;
- and
- a control module connected to the first and second switches to control the first and second switches, wherein the control module is configured to open the first and second switches simultaneously.
A power converter, comprising:
- a first line;
- a second line;
- a capacitor line disposed between the first line and the second line;
- a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected to the capacitor line in series between the first line and the second line;
- a midpoint line connected to a midpoint between the first capacitor and the second capacitor;
- a first switch and a second switch connected in series between the first capacitor and the second capacitor;
- and
- a control module connected to the first and second switches to control the first and second switches, wherein the control module is configured to open the first and second switches simultaneously.
A method for providing overvoltage or short circuit protection to a power converter, comprising:
- sensing an overvoltage or short circuit in at least one portion of the power converter;
- and
- opening one or more switches disposed between a plurality of DC link capacitors on a DC link capacitor line in response to the overvoltage,
- wherein opening one or more switches includes simultaneously opening two switches including a first switch located on a first side of a midpoint of the DC link capacitor line between the plurality of DC link capacitors, and a second switch located on a second side of the midpoint between the plurality of DC link capacitors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.